An exceptional study of Indian debates about and identifications with fascism in colonial times, as well as their resonances today. This is as much a work of Indian as of global intellectual history.--Faisal Devji, author of Muslim Zion

Rejecting the usual tendency to examine fascism in India in terms of its differences from the 'original' European version, Sabastian demonstrates that it was homegrown and yet fully engaged in interpreting the various imperialist, nationalist, socialist, and fascist currents of thought that shaped world politics in the twentieth century. Impressively researched and incisively argued, this remarkably intelligent book is a must-read for all students of global political thought.--Dipesh Chakrabarty, author of Provincializing Europe

This unusually well argued and deeply researched book is by far the most comprehensive, lucid, and ambitious discussion of how a range of twentieth-century Indian scholars, public intellectuals, and political thinkers developed fascist ideas. Luna Sabastian richly situates and contextualizes within Indian intellectual history as well as global academic and intellectual trends the many figures and works under discussion, which were extremely significant in their time but have since been largely forgotten or overshadowed by others. She manages to demonstrate, convincingly and refreshingly, that 'Indian fascism' is a distinct and discernible political-intellectual tradition.--Thomas Blom Hansen, author of The Saffron Wave

An astute intellectual history of Hindutva...a distinguishing characteristic of Indian fascism, Sabastian cannily argues, is its ability to annihilate the 'other' not through exclusion but through forced absorption...The result is a sharp look at how Hindutva aims to achieve its totalizing objectives.-- "Publishers Weekly" (9/23/2025 12:00:00 AM)

This powerful book persuasively argues that Hindutva, the virulent form of Hindu nationalism embraced by India's current leaders, is a fascist ideology. But Sabastian, a historian, shows that Hindutva is not a mere imitation of European fascism but an indigenous strain, shaped by local history and politics.--Pratap Bhanu Mehta "Foreign Affairs" (2/17/2026 12:00:00 AM)